Heartbreak for Exeter who come close to toppling 14-man Toulouse in thriller

Exeter slipped to a 43-40 Champions Cup defeat against 14-man Toulouse despite Zack Wimbush scoring a hat-trick.

A thrilling start saw Wimbush cross for the Chiefs only a minute into the match, with Henry Slade adding the extras. Ange Capuozzo soon struck for the hosts but Romain Ntamack was unable to convert before they went ahead through a penalty try.

A frenetic seven-minute period saw Chiefs full-back Sam Harris sent to the sin bin before Toulouse prop Rodrigue Neti was shown a red card for a high tackle and Exeter pounced as Wimbush went over again with Slade’s kick successful.

Toulouse responded through Joshua Brennan’s converted effort and a Teddy Thomas try, but the latter was shown a yellow card which allowed Exeter to regain control as Jack Yeandle and Stephen Varney both crossed, with Slade only able to convert the latter, to lead 26-24 at the break.

They extended their advantage soon after the restart when Will Butt grounded and Slade converted, but they continued to be tested by Toulouse, who squeezed ahead as Matias Remue and Ntamack both scored in quick succession, with the fly-half converting both.

Wimbush bagged his hat-trick and Slade’s conversion put Exeter in front again, but Ben Hammersley was then shown yellow and Toulouse struck through Remue’s try to edge ahead. A dramatic finale saw Slade send a penalty kick wide in the final moments as Toulouse narrowly snatched victory.

Toulouse: 15 Matias Remue; 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Gourgues, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Ange Capuozzo; 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (c); 1 Rodrigue Neti, 2 Lacombre, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 4 Joshua Brennan, 5 Joel Merkler, 6 François Cros, 7 Elias, 8 Théo Ntamack.

Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Bertrand, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Martin-Bonnard, 20 Anthony Jelonch, 21 Kouassi, 22 Paul Graou, 23 Tommaso Menoncello.

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Sam Harris; 14 Zack Wimbush, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Will Butt, 11 Tommy Wyatt; 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stephen Varney; 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Tom Hooper, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Ross Vintcent, 8 Greg Fisilau.

Replacements: 16 Louie Gulley, 17 Ethan Burger, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Harry Wilson, 20 Kane James, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Ben Hammersley.